International Women’s Day is here again, and with that comes the myriad voices of women across the world, shouting out their experiences, their opinions, and their visions for a more equitable future.

We’re so proud to showcase the work of the Thriving Women collective again today, with a brand-new collective poem and film-poem called ‘Scum’. Thriving Women are poets with lived experience of poverty and social injustice, and thanks to Thrive Teesside their words are regularly used in front of decision-makers to highlight current issues and advocate for change.

Group facilitator Julie Easley says “Channeling the sass of Maya Angelou and the punk alley prancing of Benefits the Band, the Thriving Women took to the streets of Norton to bring to life the words of their collaborative poem Scum. Scum is aimed at power. Those in positions of authority who could make a difference if they chose care over cruelty. As a group Thriving Women are defiant social commentators, as individuals they are continually targeted and labelled, shamed and blamed. The consequence of a system that punishes and points, Scum is the voice of lived experience, the reality of poverty and social exclusion in a country that has made everyday life almost un-survivable. Old, disabled, trans, black, stateless, worthless scum. That’s how they see us. That’s how they treat us. Poor by design. Scum – a low, vile, or worthless person or group of people. You decide who.”

The Thriving Women are Mandy Winter, Sue Crawford, Sandra Falconer, Diana Agunbiade, Sarah York and Julie Easley. They meet to write every other Tuesday, 11am-1pm, at Thrive Teesside’s home in Norton Grange Community Centre, Norton. You can watch more of their poetry on our YouTube channel here.

New members are welcome any time – please contact us if you’re interested in writing fierce poetry about your lived experiences.

Scum

I tell you I live in deprivation
You say I live with bitterness
You love to inflict degradation
Your attitude is viciously villainous
Your policies full of bullshit
Blaming the people you label ‘them’
You treat me like we don’t exist
While you manufacture this mayhem

The law tells me I have rights
But you are blind to their existence
I will never give up the fight
While my needs fade in the distance
Unrecognised and disregarded
You push me down into the mire
But I will not let you discard me
When I’m the truth and you’re the liar

I cry out in so much fear
It hurts in so much pain
It falls on a deaf indulging ear
And I’m expected to be sane
So scared of change, you hide so sad
The future approaches undaunted
If my change inside makes you so mad
Then it’s your agender that’s faulted.

You made me poor for your riches
With your austerity attacks
You ignore my magnificence
Only seeing what I lack
But you expose your selfish vanity
With your diversionist dreams
And I’m reclaiming my dignity
Because, despite you, I’m a Queen

You don’t stop at devaluing my pension
You don’t care if I’m warm, safe, or fed
The cost of living is your weapon
Until the likes of me are dead
You might expect that I’ll capitulate
As you plunder and you pillage
But while I draw breath, I’ll use my voice,
Till the power you hold is finished

By Thriving Women
Mandy Winter, Susan Crawford, Sarah York, Diana Agunbiade, & Sandra Falconer